Oil changes while in class? UofL wants to make it happen

A student walks past a Cardinal logo on the University of Louisville campus. | Photo by Olivia Krauth

University of Louisville students and faculty could get oil changes without leaving campus if a new “car concierge” service comes to fruition.

The university is searching for a partner to pick up cars from both the Belknap and downtown Health Sciences campuses, according to a request for proposal posted online. Ideally, the partner would take cars offsite, provide minor tune-ups like oil changes, and return cars to campus for pick-up, the RFP says.

The idea, which appears to be the first of its kind at a major university, originated with Business Services leadership, a UofL spokesman said. If it happens, it’ll be “unique,” the spokesman said.

Bob Knaster, the executive director for business services, said in an email the potential program would be a way for the school’s parking office to help motorists. He likened the idea to the university’s existing Motorist Assistance Program (MAP), which helps with minor on-campus car issues like jump-starts and flat tires.

The car concierge program, as it is called in the RFP, would only provide services that take a few hours or less. Topping off coolant, replacing windshield wiper fluid and the oft-delayed oil change are all listed as potential offerings on the RFP.

Students and faculty would be able to select services, then drop off their car and keys at a campus garage for the partner to pick up. Unlike MAP, which is free, users would have to pay for whatever service they choose.

“The value is in time saved,” Knaster said in an email. “Hours usually lost in a waiting room while minor service is performed could be made available for more enjoyable or productive use.”

UofL hopes to have the program fully implemented by June 1, according to the RFP.

If implemented, the concierge service would be the second large change for cars on campus this year. Throughout the year, students complained about how unpaid parking ticket fines double after a week. After student government involvement, the parking office agreed to push back the fine increase by an additional week, giving ticket-receivers two weeks to pay off fines before an increase.